Horse Mythology: Types of Mythical Horses Creatures by Type : Horses (fabulous) Overview - Legendary creatures related to horses. Cartazonon - A beautiful orange creature that resembles a horse with a lionish mane and a single horn growing from it's forehead. Ceffyl-Dwr - A flying water horse related to the fairy. (Welsh) Centaur - A creature with the head and torso of a man and the lower body of a horse. (Greek) Each Uisge - A supernatural water horse that feeds on human flesh. (Scottish, Irish) Hippocampus - A creature with an upper body that resembles a horse and a dolphin-like lower body. (Greek) Hippogriff - A beast with a head and front legs of an eagle while the rest of its body is that of a horse. (Greek) Ichthyocentaur - A being that appears to have the upper body of a human, the forelegs of a horse or lion, and the tail of a dolphin. (Greek, Roman) Ipotanes - A being that resembles a human with the ears, tail, and legs of a horse.

(Greek) Karkadann - A carnivorous unicorn found in the desert regions of North Africa and India. (African, Indian) Kelpie - A supernatural water horse found near lakes and rivers in Scotland. (Scottish) Kimpurushas - A servant spirt the resembles a horse with a human head. (Hindu) Nix - A shapeshifter that can appear as a human, horse, snake, fish, or mermaid. (German) Noggle - A small grey horse with supernatural powers. (Celtic) Pegasus - A creature that resembles a horse with wings. (Greek) Phooka - A pitch black being with glowing red eyes. Takes the shape of a horse, dog, or giant bird. (Irish) Sileni - A bipedal being that appears human form the waist up and horse from the waist down. (Greek) Unicorn - A horse-like creature with a single spiral horn growing from its forehead. (Prevalent) Unipeg - A winged horse-like creature with a single spiral horn growing from its forehead. Xanthus - The name of an immortal horse with the power of speech.

(Greek) Mythical monsters - Greek Gods, Mythology of Ancient Greece Mythical monsters Mythical monsters Mythical monsters Greek myths include many monstrous beings. Some resemble hybrids between different species, while others are of the same species but having un-natural extra heads or limbs. There are also some un-dead monsters, such as ghosts and demons. Centaurs - a race of half-man, half-horse beings. They were usually depicted with the upper body of a man and lower body of a horse. Most famous was Chiron, the eldest and wisest of the Centaurs. He was also the ancient trainer of heroes. Cerberus - a three-headed monstrous hound that guarded the gates of Hades. It was there to prevent anyone from escaping the underworld. Heracles captured it in his final labor and, with the consent of Hades , brought it back before Eurystheus. Cercopes - monkey-like thieves who plagued the land of Lydia in western Anatolia. They were punished for their crime by Zeus who transformed them into pure monkeys. Charybdis - a sea monster which swallowed large amounts of water, forming a deadly whirlpool. It was later rationalised just as whirlpool.

It was encountered by Odysseus in the Odyssey and previously by Jason and the Argonauts, when they were returning back to Iolcos. Chimera - a monstrous fire-breathing female creature, composed of the parts of a lion, a goat and a serpent. It was depicted as a lion, with the goat`s head arising from its back and a tail which ended with serpent`s head. It was slain by Bellerophon . Empusa - a vampiric demoness with a single leg of bronze and a foot of a donkey. She feasted on the young men`s blood and flesh, after seducing them into sleep paralysis. She was a daughter of Hecate and spirit Mormo. Gorgons - three cursed sisters with hair full of venomous serpents. They were all cursed by Athena because of Medusa who mated with Poseidon in a temple of the goddess. Medusa was also the only one who was mortal and capable of turning men into stone with her gaze. Others were Stheno, the most murderous, having killed more victims than other sisters combined, and Euryale, the sister most known for her death-bellowing screams.

Graeae - three old women with one tooth and one eye which they had to share among them. Their names were Deino, Enyo and Pemphredo. They were encountered by Perseus when he went to ask them about the location of the Garden of Hesperides. Harpies - winged creatures with the bodies of birds and the heads and torsos of women. Best known for stealing food from Phineus who was punished by Zeus. The event itself was encountered by Jason and the Argonauts on the way to Colchis. Hippalectryon - a creature with the front body of a horse(head, torso, front legs) and rear body of a rooster(tail, wings, rear legs). Hippocamp - a sea-horse like creature with a body of a horse and a tail of a fish. Hydra - a many-headed, ancient serpent-like beast with poisonous breath and blood so virulent that even its tracks were deadly. Variously it was said that when a head was chopped off, two new heads would grow or just a new one. Heracles encountered one which guarded the underworld entrance beneath Lake Lerna.

Ichthyocentaurs - a pair of marine centaurs with upper bodies of men, lower front parts of horses and tails of fish. Also, they wore lobster-claw horns and were half-brothers of Chiron. Ipotane - a race of half-horse, half-humans. They are usually depicted as arms and body of humans with legs, bottom and a tail of a horse, sometimes also with the ears of a horse. Kobalos(Kobaloi) - species of mischievous, thieving gnome-dwarfs, fond of tricking or frightening mortals. They were also depicted as funny little tricksy elves. They were companions of Dionysus . Lamia - once a beautiful queen of Lybia who became vampiric child-eating demon. She was a mistress of Zeus , but was transformed into the monster by Hera , upon finding out of their affair. Manticore - a monstrous creature with a head of a man, a body of a lion and a tail of a scorpion. Sometimes even depicted with the wings of a bat. Minotaur - a monster with a head of a bull and a body of a man.

It was encountered and slain by Theseus in the labyrinth that was made by Daedalus . Mormo - a vampiric spirit creature who bit bad children and was a companion of goddess Hecate. Nessus - the centaur who became a ferryman at the river Euenos. He was killed by Heracles when he kidnapped his wife Deianeira. Dying Nessus told Deianeira that his blood would ensure that Heracles would be true to her forever. But instead it killed Heracles who was then taken to Mount Olympus by Zeus. Ophiotaurus - a cow-serpentine monster, composed of parts of a bull and parts of a serpent. Orthrus - a two-headed, serpent-tailed dog that was a brother of Cerberus and a pet of three-bodied giant Geryon. The creature was slain by Heracles along with the giant in one of his labours. Panes - a tribe of spirit-like creatures who had heads and torsos of men, legs and tails of goats, goatish faces and goat-horns Satyrs - the companions of Pan and Dionysus who had human upper bodies, legs and tails and ears of a goat and pug-noses.

They were often depicted dancing and drinking at the parties of Dionysus. There is also a myth of satyr called Marsyas who challenged Apollo to a music contest. Sileni - a race of elderly companions of Dionysus which were differentiated from satyrs by having the attributes of a horse rather than a goat. Sirens - dangerous winged bird-women whose irresistible enchanted songs lured sailors to their deaths. They were encountered by Odysseus in the Odyssey and by Jason and the Argonauts on their quest. Sphinx - a monstrous creature with the body of a lion, wings of an eagle and head of a woman. She is mythicised as treacherous and merciless. Oedipus encountered the monster when he came to Thebes . Taraxippi - ghostly apparitions that frightened horses on race-courses of Olympia , Isthmos and Nemea. It is said that horses were shocked by no reason while on course and crashed chariots with people in it. Telchines - skilled metal-workers in brass and iron, with heads of a dog and flippers of a seal in place of hands.

greek-gods.org (c) Copyright 2013 - 2016, all rights reserved What is a half-man and half-horse called? | Reference.com What is a half-man and half-horse called? A: Quick Answer A centaur is a mythological creature with the upper body of a man and the lower body of a horse. The centaur's upper body typically included a human-like head, arms and torso, while the lower portion consisted of a horse's body and legs. Full Answer Centaurs originated in Greek myths and were said to live in the mountainous regions of Thessaly and Arcadia. They were likely inspired by earlier Greek literature that told of a savage Thessalian tribe known for riding on horseback. Illustrations of centaurs evolved from depicting a full human body with a horse body attached at the rear to the more popular image that features a human body from head to waist. In mythology, they are said to be descended from King Ixion of the Lapiths, and they are often referred to as accompanying the god Dionysus.

Mythical Hybrids MYTHICAL HYBRIDS Go to A-Z List Hybrids, in the mythical realm, are creatures that combine the features and body parts of more than one real species. There are non-human versions that combine features of one or more animal species such as the basilisks , the Chimera and griffins . Then, there are also part human combinations such as the very popular centaurs and mermaids . Now, these mythical creatures seem as they have all the capabilities of being formidable beings especially when having, perhaps even mastering the command of all the strongest features of each of it's mixed species. On the other hand, some of the combinations you will read about will make you wonder how such creatures could even sustain themselves, let alone survive. This category is comprised of very well known, strong and mighty creatures. It also includes unsavoury beasts with all the necessary features and powers required to create the most horrifying and terrible nightmares possible. I mean, think of just simply crossing paths with a skinless mouse (or a skinless anything) never mind a huge headed man-horse like the Nuckelavee stretching his long arms about trying to grab at you - very creepy.

THE A-Z LIST Adaro - Evil mermen sea spirits Adlet - Human and dog cross with red fur Ahuizotl - Dog and monkey cross with five hands Alkonost - A bird with the head of a beautiful woman Ammit - Female demon that is part lion, hippopotamus & crocodile Anubis - Tall human male with the head of a jackal Basilisk - Head and claws of a rooster with a reptile's body and tail Bastet - Female human with the head of a domesticated cat Catoblepas - Large boar's head, small pig's body with wings Centaur - Human horse hybrids, top half human with body of a horse Cerberus - Three headed canine with a mane of serpents Chimera - Head and body of a lioness, head of a goat, serpent's tail Cockatrice - Head, claws and wings of a rooster, reptile's body and tail Echidna - Upper half of a beautiful woman, lower body of a serpent Formorians - Large, deformed bodies made up of animal parts Gargoyles - Grotesque stone statues Goatman - A half goat, half man creature Gorgons - Woman's upper half, snakes for hair and

 a serpents body Griffin - Head, claws and wings of an eagle, body and tail of a lion Harpies - Top half of a witch, claws and wings of a vulture Hippocampi - Horses with a serpentine lower half Hippogriff - Head, wings and claws of an eagle - body of a horse Khnum - Strong human male with the head of a ram Lamia - Woman’s head, scaly body, four legs and a tail Leucrocuta - Horse's head and legs, neck and body of a lion Lusca - Large octopus/shark hybrid Manticore - Lion's body, human head, poisonous scorpion-like tail Merlion - Head of a lion, body of a large fish Mermaids - Beautiful women with a fish-like lower body Minotaur - Body of a human male with the head and tail of a bull Nuckelavee - Skinless monster, resembles popular hybrid - the Centaur Onocentaur - Top half human & lower half donkey Orthus - Two headed dog with a serpent's tail Perytons - Head of a deer with wings of an eagle Piasa - Face of a man, antlers, wings and four legs Satyr - Human

 upper body with goat-like legs & tail Scylla and Charybdis - Six headed monster and a deadly whirlpool Scorpion Men - Powerful half man and half scorpion mythical creatures Sekhmet - Lion head with a large human-like female body Serpopard - Falcon headed leopard with wings Sirens - Head and body of a woman, legs and wings of a bird Sphinx - Head of a woman, body of a lion with wings and a snake's tail Typhon - Enormous multi-headed monster with wings, serpent's body Weretiger - Half human and half tiger Werewolves - Large wolf-like body, long fangs, glowing eyes Centaur - definition of centaur by The Free Dictionary Centaur - definition of centaur by The Free Dictionary (sĕn′tôr′) n.

1. Greek Mythology One of a race of monsters having the head, arms, and trunk of a man and the body and legs of a horse. 2. Astronomy Any of a group of icy asteroids that orbit the sun primarily in the region between Jupiter and Neptune, whose orbits they cross. Some centaurs appear to be more like comets than asteroids. [Middle English, from Latin Centaurus, from Greek Kentauros. Sense 2, from the official convention of naming such objects after the centaurs of Greek mythology, a practice derived from the fact that the first such object to be observed was named after Chiron .] centaur (ˈsɛntɔː) n (Classical Myth & Legend) Greek myth one of a race of creatures with the head, arms, and torso of a man, and the lower body and legs of a horse. Also called: hippocentaur [C14: from Latin, from Greek kentauros, of unknown origin] cen•taur (ˈsɛn tɔr) n. 1. any of a race of creatures in Greek myth having the head, upper torso, and arms of a man, and the body and legs of a horse.

[1325–75; < Latin centaurus < Greek kéntauros] cen•tau′ri•al, cen•tau′ri•an, cen•tau′ric, adj. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: 1. centaur - (classical mythology) a mythical being that is half man and half horse classical mythology - the system of mythology of the Greeks and Romans together; much of Roman mythology (especially the gods) was borrowed from the Greeks mythical creature , mythical monster - a monster renowned in folklore and myth Chiron - (Greek mythology) the learned centaur who tutored Achilles, Asclepius, Hercules, Jason, and other heroes 2. Alpha Centauri , Rigil , Rigil Kent - brightest star in Centaurus; second nearest star to the sun Beta Centauri - the second brightest star in Centaurus Omega Centauri - a global cluster in the constellation Centaurus Proxima , Proxima Centauri - the nearest star to the sun; distance: 4.3 light years Translations Want to thank TFD for its existence?

Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: half-hearted References in classic literature ? That little goose means a centaur, and she called him a Cyclops," exclaimed Jo, with a burst of laughter. View in context On the same principle, even if a writer in his poetic imitation were to combine all metres, as Chaeremon did in his Centaur, which is a medley composed of metres of all kinds, we should bring him too under the general term poet. View in context This has been figuratively taught to princes by ancient writers, who describe how Achilles and many other princes of old were given to the Centaur Chiron to nurse, who brought them up in his discipline; which means solely that, as they had for a teacher one who was half beast and half man, so it is necessary for a prince to know how to make use of both natures, and that one without the other is not durable.

View in context And so, when his scholars had grown up, and grown old, and were trotting their grandchildren on their knees, they told them about the sports of their school days; and these young folks took the idea that their grandfathers had been taught their letters by a Centaur, half man and half horse. View in context I was obliged to dismount at Tours; since that, rolling along in a carriage, half dead, sometimes overturned, drawn upon the sides, and sometimes on the back of the carriage, always with four spirited horses at full gallop, I have arrived -- arrived, gaining four hours upon Porthos; but, see you, D'Artagnan does not weigh three hundred-weight, as Porthos does; D'Artagnan has not the gout and gravel, as I have; he is not a horseman, he is a centaur.

View in context Meanwhile, the tower trembled; he shrieked and gnashed his teeth, his red hair rose erect, his breast heaving like a bellows, his eye flashed flames, the monstrous bell neighed, panting, beneath him; and then it was no longer the great bell of Notre- Dame nor Quasimodo: it was a dream, a whirlwind, a tempest, dizziness mounted astride of noise; a spirit clinging to a flying crupper, a strange centaur, half man, half bell; a sort of horrible Astolphus, borne away upon a prodigious hippogriff of living bronze. Bestiary | Theoi Greek Mythology The fantastic creatures of Greek mythology and legend can be divided into eight broad categories : 1. MYTHICAL MONSTERS Awful humanoid creatures. These included monsters such as the Gorgons and Echidna. 2. MYTHICAL HYBRIDS Creatures which combine human and animal forms or various animals. These include creatures such as the Centaur (Horse-Man), Sphinx (Lion-Woman), Hippocamp (Fish-Horse), and Chimaera (Lion-Goat-Snake). 3.

MYTHICAL ANIMALS Normal animals with some fantastic attribute. Examples include the winged horse Pegasus, the giant Erymanthian Boar, the fire-breathing Bulls of Colchis, and the inescapable hunting-dog Laelaps. 4. DRAGONS A breed of serpentine monsters, usually equipped with some magical power. They include creatures such as the Hydra, the Dragon of the Golden Fleece, Python, the Ethiopian Sea-Monster and the she-dragon Echidna. 5. GIANTS Gigantic men, often with fantastic features or abilities. A few examples are the hundred-handed Hecatoncheires, the one-eyed Cyclopes, the water-walking hunter Orion, the wrestler Antaeus, and the monstrous Typhon. 6. GHOSTS & DEMONS Creatures from the underworld which haunted the earth. They included the Empusae, Erinyes, Vampires and haunting ghosts of the dead.

Fabulous tribes of men which were believed to inhabit the lands of Terra Incognita, the "Unknown Earth." Examples of these are the Pygmies, the one-legged Sciapods, dog-headed Cynocephali, headless Blemmyae, and one-eyed Arimaspians. BESTIARY MEDUSA Greek myth and legend is filled with a wide variety of monsters and creatures ranging from Dragons, Giants, Demons and Ghosts, to multiformed creatures such as the Sphinx, Minotaur, Centaurs, Manticores and Griffins. There were also many fabulous animals such as the Nemean Lion, golden-fleeced Ram and winged horse Pegasus, not to mention the creatures of legend such as the Phoenix, Unicorns (Monocerata). Even amongst the tribes of man, myth spoke of strange peoples inhabiting the far reaches of the earth such as the hopping Umbrella-Foots, the one-eyed Arimaspians, the Dog-Headed men, and the puny Pygmies. AMPHISBAENAE see Beasts, African AUTOMOTONS (Automotones) Creatures crafted out of metal and endowed with life by the smith-god Hephaestus.

BULLS, BRONZE (Tauroi Khalkeoi) Four fire-breathing, bronze bulls which Hephaestus crafted for King Aeetes of Colchis. CELEDONES (Keledones) Golden singing maidens which Hephaistos crafted for the first temple of Apollo at Delphi. DOGS, GOLD & SILVER (Kuones Khryseos Argyreos) A pair of gold and silver dogs which Hephaestus crafted for King Alcinous of the Phaeacians. HORSES, CABEIRIAN (Hippoi Kabeirikoi) A pair of metallic, fire-breathing horses owned by the twin Cabiri gods. MAIDENS, GOLDEN (Kourai Khryseai) Four golden maidens which Hephaestus crafted as his own attendants. TALOS A bronze giant which Hephaestus crafted for Queen Europa of Crete to patrol the borders of her island. BASILISCS see Beasts, African BEASTS, AFRICAN (Theres Aithiopes) The semi-legendary land of Ethiopia (Sub-saharan Africa) was the home of many fabulous beasts.

AMPHISBAENAE (Amphisbainai) Saharan snakes with two heads, one at each end of the body. BASILISCS (Basiliskoi) Deadly serpents which killed by touch. BULLS, ETHIOPIAN (Tauroi Aithiopikoi) Gigantic African bulls whose red hides were impervious to steel. CATOBLEPAS (Katoblepon) African hoofed animals whose downward looking head, when raised, could kill man with a gaze or with its noxious breath. DRAGONS, ETHIOPIAN (Drakones Aithiopikoi) Gigantic African serpents. LEUCROCOTAE (Leukrokota) An animals with a powerful jaw of bone in place of teeth, which could imitate human voices to lure it prey. PEGASI, ETHIOPIAN (Pegasoi Aithiopikoi) The winged horses of Ethiopia who had a single horn growing from their forehead. SATYRS, ISLAND (Satyroi Nesioi) Ape-like satyrs native to certain islands off the African coast.

SATYRS, LIBYAN (Satyroi Libyes) Monkey-like satyrs who lived in the forest of Mount Atlas. SPHINXES, ETHIOPIAN (Sphinxes Aithiopikoi) Women-headed African lions. BEASTS, INDIAN (Theres Indikoi) Legendary India was the home of many fabulous beasts. ANTS, INDIAN (Myrmekes Indikoi) Gigantic ants which guarded the gold-fields of the Indian desert. CETEA, INDIAN (Ketea Indikoi) Fabulous half-animal, half-fish sea-monster such as fish-tailed lions, bears, wolves, rams and even spiny-haired mermaids. DRAGONS, INDIAN (Drakones Indikoi) Giant Indian serpents which preyed on elephants. MONOCERATA (Hippoi Monokerata) The unicorns, magical single-horned equines native to India. WORMS, INDOS Gigantic white worms which inhabited the Indos river. BEASTS, PERSIAN & ARABIAN (Theres Persikoi) Various fabulous animals were believed to inhabit the lands of Arabia and Persia.

See also Manticore and Phoenix. SERPENTS, WINGED (Ophies Pteretoi) Feathery-winged serpents of Arabia which guarded the valuable myrrh fields. BIRDS, OF ARES (Ornithes Areioi) Arrow-shooting birds which guarded the Amazonian shrine of the god Ares. BIRDS, STYMPHALIAN (Ornithes Stymphalides) Man-eating which haunted lake Stymphalus in Arkadia. Heracles weas sent to drive them away as one of his Labours BOAR, CALYDONIAN (Hus Kalydonios) A gigantic Aetolian boar slain by a band of heroes in the famed Calydonian Boar Hunt. BOAR, CLAZOMENEAN (Hus Klazomenaios) A gigantic winged sow which ravaged the island of Clazomenae. BOAR, CROMMYONIAN (Hus Krommyon) A gigantic sow which ravaged the region of Crommyon. It was slain by the hero Theseus.

BOAR, ERYMANTHIAN (Hus Erymanthios) A gigantic Arcadian boar which Heracles was sent to fetch as one of his twelve labours. BULL, CRETAN (Tauros Kretaios) The bull which impregnated Pasiphae queen of Crete and which Heracles was sent to fetch as one of his labours. BULL, OF EUROPA (Tauros Europaios) A bull which carried the Phoenician princess Europa across the sea to Crete. It was sometimes depicted as a fish-tailed animal. BULL, SERPENT (Tauros Ophis) A black-skinned monster with the foreparts of a bull and the rearparts of a serpent. It was slain by the Sea-Titan Aegaeon during the Titan-War. CATOBLEPAS see Beasts, African CENTAURS (Kentauroi) A tribe of creatures who had the heads and torsos of men and the bodies of horses. CENTAURIDES (Kentaurides) The female centaurs, women with the bodies of horses in place of legs.

CENTAURS, CYPRIAN (Kentauroi Kyprioi) A tribe of centaurs native to the island of Cyprus. CENTAURS, DIONYSIAN (Kentauroi Lamoi) The centaur attendants of the god Dionysos. CENTAURS, PELOPONNESIAN (Kentauroi Peloponnesioi) A tribe of Arcadian centaurs which battled Heracles for the wine of Pholus. CENTAURS, THESSALIAN (Kentauroi Thessalioi) A tribe of Magnesian centaurs who battled the Lapith tribesmen at the wedding of King Pirithoos. CHIRON (Kheiron) A wise, immortal Centaur, half-brother of Zeus. He was the mentor of many Greek heroes. EURYTION 1 A Thessalian centaur who tried to abduct the bride of King Pirithoos. EURYTION 2 A Pelopennesian centaur slain by Heracles.

ICHTHYOCENTAURS (Ikhthyokentauroi) Two marine centaurs, named Bythos and Aphros, with the upper torsoes of a men and the lower bodies of hippocamps (fish-tailed horses). NESSUS (Nessos) A centaur slain by Heracles. PHOLUS (Pholos) A goodly centaur who entertained Heracles. CERBERUS (Kerberos) The three-headed, giant hound that guarded the gates of Hades. It had lion's feet, a mane of serpents and the tail of a viper. CERCOPES (Kerkopes) A pair of mischievous monkey-like dwarfs. CHIMERA (Khimaira) A three headed monster, with the foreparts of a lion, the hind-parts of a goat and goat's-head rising from its back, and the tail of a headed-serpent. CRAB, GIANT (Karkinos) A giant crab which fought alongside the Hydra against Heracles. DEER, CERYNITIAN (Elaphos Kerynitis) A golden-horned deer which Heracles was sent to fetch as one of his twelve labours.

DEER, GOLDEN-HORNED (Elaphoi Khrysokeroi) Five immortal golden-horned deer sacred to the goddess Artemis. Four of them drew the goddess' chariot. DEMONS (Kakodaimones) Some of the personified spirits and demons of the underworld were monstrous in appearance. ACHLYS (Akhlys) The demon of misery was a pale green hag with bleeding cheeks and tear-stained eyes, overgrown fingernails and dusty hair. EMPUSA (Empousa) A flame-haired vampiric demon with a leg of bronze and a hoofed foot of an ass. Disguised as a beautiful woman she seduced men to feed on their flesh and blood. EURYNOMUS (Eurynomos) A blue-black skinned demon of the underworld who fed on the flesh of corpses. KERES Dark-winged death demons which haunted the battlefields of men and fed on the blood of dying men. They were pale ugly hags with clawed hands and gnashing teeth. LIMOS The demon of hunger was a starved, wasted creature with parchment skin, and swollen joints.

MELINOE A spectral underworld demon who issued forth from the underworld to terrify men. One side of her body was ink-black and the other bone-white. ZELUS (Zelos) The demon of jealousy was a monstrous hag that fed upon venomous serpents. Her body was shrunken, her teeth black, and her breasts covered in green venom. DOG, GOLDEN (Kuon Khryseos) A golden hound which Rhea sent to guard the infant Zeus and his nurse the goat Amaltheia. DOG, LAELAPS (Kuon Lailaps) A fabulous dog destined always to catch its mark. DOG, ORTHROS (Kuon Orthros) A two-headed, serpent-tailed dog which guarded the cattle of Geryon. It was slain by Heracles. DRACAENAE (Drakainai) Female-monsters with the head and torsos of women and serpentine-tails in place of legs. CAMPE (Kampe) A monstrous Tartarean dracaena who had the body of a woman and a serpent's tail.

Her head was wreathed in snakes and her serpentine body was arrayed with a thousand snake's tails for feet. She was armed with a giant scorpion's sting, black wings and around her waist were arrayed the heads of fifty wild beasts. DRACAENA, POINE (Drakaina Poine) A monstrous child-devouring she-dragon sent by Apollo to punish the men of Argos. DRACAENA, SCYTHIAN (Drakaina Skythia) A Scythian dracaena who seduced Heracles and bore him three sons. ECHIDNA 1 (Ekhidna) An immortal Cicilian dracaena who mated with the monstrous giant Typhon and bore a brood of the most fearsome of monsters. ECHIDNA 2 (Ekhidna) A monstrous she-serpent which ravaged Argos. SYBARIS A Lamia demon which preyed on the men of Phocis. DRAGONS (Drakones) A race of giant, toothed serpentine monsters. DRAGON, COLCHIAN (Drakon Kolkhios) A gigantic Colchian dragon which guarded the famed golden-fleece.

DRAGON, HESPERIAN (Drakon Hesperia) A hundred headed dragon which guarded the golden apples of the Hesperides. DRAGON, LYDIAN (Drakon Maionios) A Lydian dragon slain by the giant Damasen. DRAGON, THEBAN (Drakon Ismenios) A monstrous Theban dragon slain by the hero Cadmus. From its earth-sown teeth were sprung a race of fully-grown, armed warriors. DRAGON, THESPIAN (Drakon Thespiakos) A dragon which plagued the town of Thespia. DRAGONS, MEDEAN (Drakones Medea) A pair of winged serpents which drew the chariot of the witch Medea. DRAGONS, TROJAN (Drakones Troiades) A pair of monstrous sea-serpents sent by Poseidon to destroy Laocoon and his sons. PYTHON A monstrous serpent that guarded the shrine of Delphi. EAGLE, CAUCASIAN (Aetios Kaukasios) A gigantic Caucasian eagle which fed on the liver of the chained Titan Prometheus.

EAGLE, OF ZEUS (Aetos Dios) A gigantic golden eagle, the animal familiar of Zeus. FISHES, OF APHRODITE (Ikhthyes) Two large fish which carried the goddess Aphrodite ashore following her sea-birth. FOX, TEUMESSIAN (Alopex Teumesios) A gigantic fox which ravaged the kingdom of Thebes, preying upon the unfortunate children of the country. GIANTS (Gigantes) A breed of oversized, mostly monstrous men. AGRIUS & OREUS (Agrios, Oreios) A pair of man-eating Giants who were half man, half bear. ALCYONEUS (Alkyoneus) The King of the Giants who was immortal within his homeland of Pallene. Herakles wounded him and dragged him incapacitated from his country to die. ALOADAE (Aloidai) Twin giants who tried to storm Olympus by piling three mountains one upon the other. They were slain by the gods. ANTAEUS (Antaios) A Libyan giant who drew his strength from the earth. He lifted and strangled to death by Heracles.

ARGUS PANOPTES (Argos Panoptes) A giant whose body was covered with eyes. He was slain by Hermes. CACUS (Kakos) A fire-breathing Italian giant slain by Heracles. CYCLOPES, ELDER (Kyklopes) Three one-eyed giants who forged the weapons of the gods. CYCLOPES, YOUNGER (Kyklopes) A tribe of cannibalistic giants who shepherded flocks of sheep on the isle of Sicily. DAMASEN A gigantic Lydian hero. ECHIDNADES (Ekhidnades) A serpent-legged giant slain by Ares. ENCELADUS (Enkelados) A fire-breathing giant burried by Athena beneath Mount Etna. GEGENEES A tribe of six-armed Mysian giants which were slain by the Argonauts. GERYON A winged giant three-bodied giant. He was slain by Heracles. GIGANTES, HECA- The one hundred giants of Phlegra who waged war on the gods. They were led by Alcyoneus, Porphyrion and Enceladus.

HECATONCHEIRES (Hekatonkheires) Three hundred-handed, fifty-headed giants who guarded the gates of Tartarus. HYPERBOREAN GIANTS (Gigantes Hyperboreioi) Three gigantic sons of Boreas the god of the North Wind who were immortal priests of the virtuous Hyperborean tribe. LAESTRYGONES (Laistrygones) A race of man-eating giants. ORION A handsome giant who could walk on water. POLYPHEMUS (Polyphemos) The greatest of the younger Cyclopes. He was blinded by Odysseus. TALUS (Talos) A bronze giant who patrolled the island of Crete. TITYUS (Tityos) A giant who tried to rape the goddess Leto and was sent to eternal punishment in Hades. TYPHON (Typhoeus) A monstrous giant with one human and ninety-nine animal heads, two hundred hands each tipped with fifty serpents, a pair of serpent tails for legs, giant wings, and a fire-breathing maw. He was buried beneath Mt Etna by Zeus.

GORGONS (Gorgones) Three monstrous Libyan sisters with broad faces, staring eyes, flaring nostrils, wiry beards, tusks and protruding tongues. Their heads were wreathed in snakes, a pair of golden wings sprung from their backs, and in place of hands they had brazen claws. GRAEAE (Graiai) Three old hags born with grey hair, wrinkled skin and only one tooth and one eye between them. GRIFFINS (Grypes) Winged beasts with the foreparts of eagles and the bodies of lions. HARPIES (Harpyiai) Three winged monsters with the bodies of birds and the heads and torsos of women. HIPPALEKTRYON (Hippalektryon) A creature with the fore-parts of the rooster and the body of a horse. HIPPOCAMPI (Hippokampoi) Sea-creatures with the fore-parts of horses and the tails of serpentine fish. HORSES, IMMORTAL (Hippoi Athanatoi) A breed of swift-footed, immortal horses. ARION (Areion) The immortal horse of the hero Adrastus.

BALIUS & XANTHUS (Balios, Xanthos) Two immortal horses owned by the hero Achilles. HORSES, OF ARES (Hippoi Areioi) Four fire-breathing horses which drew the chariot of Ares. HORSES, OF DIOMEDES (Hippoi Diomedios) Four man-eating horses owned by the Thracian King Diomedes. Heracles was sent to fetch them as one of his twelve labours. HORSES, TROJAN A herd of immortal horses owned by the kings of Troy. HYDRA (Hydra) The nine-headed serpent of Lerna who sprung two heads for every one which was decapitated. It was slain by Heracles. LEUCROCOTAE See Beasts, African LION, NEMEAN (Leon Nemeios) A gigantic Argive lion whose skin was impervious to weapons. It was strangled by Heracles. MANTICORE (Mantikhoras) A winged Persian monster with the head of a man, the body of a lion and a spiked missile-throwing tail.

MEN, EARTH-BORN (Anthropoi Autokhthonoi) Unusual men sometimes sprouted from the earth itself. CECROPS (Kekrops) An earth-born king of Athens who had the tail of a serpent in place of legs. SPARTI (Spartoi) A race of earth-born warriors, which sprang fully grown, armed and ready for battle from the sown teeth of a dragon. MEDUSA (Medousa) A mortal Gorgon slain by Perseus. MEN, FANTASTIC Races of strangely-formed men were believed to inhabit the farthest reaches of the earth. ARIMASPIANS (Arimaspoi, Monommatoi) A tribe of one-eyed men who battled the eagle-headed Griffins for their gold. ARTABATITAE (Artabatitai) An African tribe of four-legged men. ASTOMI (Astomoi) A hair-covered Indian tribe of men without mouths, who sustained themselves on the scent of aromatic plants. BLEMMYAE (Blemmyai, Sternophthalmoi) A tribe of headless African men whose faces were set upon their chests.

CALINGI (Kalingoi) A short-lived Indian tribe who reached maturity at five and died of old age at eight. CHOROMANDAE (Khromandai) A hair-covered Indian tribe, with dog's teeth and a horrible scream in place of speech. CUNOCEPHALI (Kunokephaloi, Hemikunes) A tribe of dog-headed African men. GORGADES An African tribe whose women were entirely covered in hair. HIPPOPODES A northern European tribe with horse's feet. MACHLYES (Makhlyes) A Libyan tribe whose bodies were female on one side and male on the other. MACROBI (Makroboi) Long-lived Indian tribes never touched by old age. MACROCEPHALI (Makrokephaloi) A tribe of African men with long, elongated heads. MANDI (Mandoi) A race of Indians who grew old and wrinkled shortly after birth. NULI (Nuloi) An African people with backward-turned, eight-toed feet.

PANDAE (Pandai) A tribe of long-lived Indian men with gigantic ears, eight fingers and toes, and white-hair covering their bodies which turned black with age. PANOTII (Panotioi) A fabulous tribe of northern men with gigantic, body-length ears. PYGMIES (Pygmaioi) A tribe of one and a half foot tall African men who rode goats into battle against migrating cranes. SCIAPODS (Skiapodes, Steganopodes) A tribe of one-legged Libyan men who used their gigantic foot as shade against the midday sun. SCIRITAE (Sikiritai) An Indian race with snake-like nostrils in place of a nose, and bandy serpentine legs. STRUTHOPODES (Strouthopodes) An Indian tribe whose men had 18 inch long feet and whose women had tiny sparrow-like ones. SYRBOTAE (Syrbotai) A tribe of twelve-foot tall Africans. MINOTAUR (Minotauros) A Cretan monster with the head of a bull and the hairy body of a man.

NEADES Gigantic animals native to the island of Samos whose roar could split apart the ground. PANES A tribe of nature-spirits which had the heads and torsos of men, the legs and tails of goats, goatish faces and goat-horns. AEGIPAN (Aigipan) A demi-god with the fore-parts of a goat and the tail of a fish. PAN The goat-legged, horned god of shepherds and flocks. PEGASUS (Pegasos) A winged horse tamed by the hero Bellerophon and ridden into battle with the Chimera. PHASMA Ghosts or phantoms which haunted the living. Some were corporeal in form, retaining their physical bodies, others were merely bodiless spirits. GHOST, PHILINNION A dead Macedonian woman who rose up from her tomb at night to haunt a handsome young guest of her parents. She was probably a lamia (vampire). GHOST, POLYCRITUS (Polykritos) A dead man who rose up from his grave and devoured his living hermaphroditic son.

LAMIAE (Lamiai) Vampiric demons whichy preyed on young men in the guise of a beautiful woman and drank their blood. LAMIA CORINTHIAN (Lamia Korinthia) A vampiric Lamia who disguised herself as a wealthy Phoenician woman in order to seduce a handsome young man and drain his blood. LAMIA LIBYAN (Lamia Libys) A vampiric Libyan demon which preyed on children. She could pluck out her own bleeding eyes. PHANTOMS, EIDOLONES Evil man-possessing spirits or ghosts. PHANTOM, EPHESIAN PLAGUE (Eidos Loimos Ephesios) A plague-bringing demon that haunted the town of Ephesus. TARAXIPPI (Taraxippoi) Horse-frightening ghosts or daemones which haunted the race-courses of Olympia, Nemea and the Isthmus. PHOENIX (Phoinix) A fabulous golden-red bird whose feathers shone with the light of the sun.

PYGMIES See Men, fantastic RAM, GOLDEN-FLEECED (Krios Khrysomallos) A flying, talking, golden-fleeced Ram who rescued the children Phrixus and Helle from a sacrifice to the gods. RIVER GODS & DAEMONES (Theoi Daimones Potamoi) The river-gods appeared either as men from the chest upwards, set upon the serpentine tail of a fish and crowned with a single bull's horn, or as horned man-headed bulls. ACHELOUS (Akheloios) An Aetolian river-god who was wrestled by Heracles. OCEANUS (Okeanos) The god of the great earth-encircling river Ocean. He had the tail of a serpentine fish and a bull's horn on his head. SATYRS (Satyroi) A tribe of nature-spirits with the body of men, the tails of horses, pug noses and the ears of asses. MARSYAS A satyr defeated by Apollo in a musical contest. SATYR, ETHIOPIAN (Satyros Aithiopikos) A phantom satyr which plagued an African town.

SATYR, LEMNIAN (Satyros Lemnios) A satyr which consorted with a woman of the island of Lemnos. SILENI (Seilenoi) A race of elderly Satyrs with the bodies of old-men, pug-noses, the tails of horses, and asses' ears. SILENUS (Seilenos) An elderly Satyr companion of Dionysus. SCORPION (Skorpios) A giant scorpion sent by Gaea to slay the giant Orion. SEA GODS & SEA DAEMONS (Daimones Einalioi, Theoi Einalioi) Many of sea-gods appeared as fish-tailed mermen, or were otherwise fabulous in form. CHARYBDIS (Kharybdis) A sea daemon whose inhalations formed a deadly whirlpool. DELPHIN (Delphin) An immortal dolphin attendant of Poseidon. EURYNOME A mermaid-like sea-goddess with the tail of a fish in place of legs. GLAUCUS (Glaukos) A blue-skinned, green-haired, fish-tailed sea-god.

NEREUS An elderly sea-god with the coiled tail of a fish in place of legs. SCYLLA (Skylla) A monstrous sea-dracaena with the upper body of a beautiful nymphe, the serpentine-tail of a sea-monster and sprung from her waist a ring of six dog foreparts. TELCHINES (Telkhines) Sea-demons with the heads of dogs and flippers of seals in place of hands. TRITON A sea-god with either a single or a pair of serpentine fish-tails in place of legs. TRITONES A race of sea daemones with the upper bodies of men and the tails of fish. Some were fearsome, scaly monsters with sharp carnivore teeth. SEA MONSTERS (Ketea) A race of gigantic, serpentine sea-dragons. SCOLOPENDRA (Skolopendra) A gargantuan sea-monster with hair extending from its nostrils, a flat crayfish-like tail and rows of webbed feet lining each of its flanks. SEA MONSTER, ETHIOPIAN (Ketos Aithiopios) A sea-monster killed by Perseus.

SEA MONSTER, TROJAN (Ketos Troios) A sea-monster slain by Heracles. SHEEP, GOLDEN (Melai Khryseoi) A flock of aggressive and highly poisonous, golden-fleeced sheep. SIRENS (Seirenes) Three winged sea-monsters whose irresistable song lured sailors to their deaths. They had the heads (or heads and torsos) of women and the bodies of birds. SPHINX A Theban monster with the head of a woman and the body of a lioness. TURTLE, GIANT A giant turtle preyed on the men cast into the sea by the bandit Sciron. UNICORNS Fabulous Indian horses with a single magical horn. The Greeks called them Monocerata (One-Horned) which the Romans translated as Unicorni. Information and Images/Pictures of Greek Mythological Beasts and Creatures. Sidebar Beasts of Greek Mythology The many intriguing creatures and monsters of mythology play an intrical role in its fascinating appeal. Not included all of the mystical beasts have been added here, but most of the major ones.

Argus The hundred-eyed character who was given by Hera the task of guarding Io, one of Zeus's many mistresses. Hermes lulled him to sleep and killed him. Hera, distraught, took his eyes and placed them on her favorite bird, the peacock. Calydonian Boar The huge boar sent by Artemis to ravage the land of Calydon due to the king's refusal to include her in his annual offerings. The king, Oeneus, requested neighboring cities to help kill the boar, and many heroes - including Peleus and Meleager - participated. The maiden Atalanta wounded the beast, and Meleager finally killed it. Although it had been Atalanta who halted the monster, because she was a woman it was Meleager who was awarded the prize. Centaurs The race of half-men, half-horses creatures. They were the product of Ixion's weird lust for Hera. Zeus created a psuedo-Hera, Nemele ["cloud"], who gave birth to Ixion's son Centaurus. This very sick son mated with the horses of Mount Pelion to produce the Centaurs.

Centaurs were wild, lusty, and brutal; however, their king was the wise and gentle Chiron who advised, among others, Achilles and Jason. Centaurs may have first have been a misinterpretation of the warriors which came from the East who rode on horseback, at the time foreign to the Hellenes. Chiron was the symbol of man eventually taming the horse, which became a great asset. Cerberus The hound of Hades that guarded the entrance to the underworld. He is described with anywhere from two to fifty heads and was the offspring of Typhon and Echidna. Heracles stole Cerberus as one of his labors, and both Aeneas and Odysseus managed to bypass the gigantic dog. Orpheus, the grand musician, soothed the savage beast in order to retrieve his wife Eurydice. Charybdis Opposite the monster Scylla, Charybdis was a whirlpool at the northern end of the Straits of Messina which devoured ships. Chimaera A fire-breathing beast with a lion's head and body, a serpent for a tail, and a goat's head in the midsection.

The chimaera may have represented fiery volcanic mountains where goats and lions dwelt and snakes innundated the foothills. It ravaged Mount Chimaera and was eventually killed by the hero Bellerophon, who shot lead in its mouth. The lead melted in its fiery breath and burnt its insides. Cyclops According to Hesiod, the one-eyed sons of Gaia and iron-workers of Hephaestus who also made Zeus's thunderbolts. There are generally three, Brontes [Thunderer], Steropes [Lightener] and Arges [Bright]. The work of Cyclopes is commonly regarded as the explanation for volcanos, and Hephaestus's Roman counterpart, Vulcan [origin of the term "volcano"], certainly backs this notion up. The most famous Cyclop is Polyphemus, who was actually a son of Poseidon but often referred to as "Cyclops". Odysseus encounters him and eventually blinds the one eye. Echidna A half woman, half-serpent monster who ate men raw. The daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, she coupled with another half-snake, Typhon, and gave birth to Hydra, Cerberus, and Chimaera.

Erinyes/Eumenides ["kindly ones"]/Furies [Latin name] The avenging spirits of the dead who relentlessly pursued wrong-doers. Born of the blood of the castrated Uranus, they were, of course, hideous: black teeth, wrinkled faces, and pus-filled eyes. Giants They were the sons of Uranus from his castrated blood that appeared almost human except for the fact their legs ended as snakes' tails. They fought the gods at Gaia's insistence and were bound to win as long as they battled only deities. Zeus summoned Heracles, who was mortal [at the time], and the Giants were defeated. Gorgons/Medusa Daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, there were three, Medusa being the only mortal. All were once beautiful, but Athena caught Medusa and Poesidon in her temple doing—well, use your imagination!—and Athena transformed the sisters into hideous monsters whose gaze turned men into stone. Medusa was eventually killed by Perseus, and her head placed on Athena's shield. The underlying message is perhaps feminist in nature: the virgin goddess catching an unholy "sacrilege" having sex.

The gorgon's gaze may be a metaphor for man becoming petrified and helpless in the presence of a beautiful [or once-beautiful] woman. The Graiae Three sisters of the Gorgans who shared one eye between them. Best known as sentinels of the Gorgons, they are represented as old women and the name "graiae" actually means "the gray ones". Harpies Winged female demons often associated with Sirens. Most art has Harpies as winged women rather than bird-bodied. Like the sirens, there was originally two, but then another was added, bringing their number to three. Hesiod names them as Aello and Octpete, with Celaeno the later addition. Their names mean storm, swift-flier, and black cloud. They are best known as the tormenters of King Phineus, who was rescued by the Argonauts. They were also the mothers to Achilles's talking horses, Xanthus and Balius. Harpies could be the personification of the unfriendly sea and its accompanying bad weather. Hydra Hydra was a snake-like monster born of Echidna and Typhon, with nine grotesque heads.

Heracles was sent to kill it for his Second Labor. The problem was, when he cut off one head, two grew back. Heracles's nephew Iolaus managed to counteract this by using firebrands to kill the stumps. However, the nineth head was immortal, but Heracles managed to disable this by burying it deep in the earth. He dipped his arrows in Hydra's blood, which was venomously poisoned. Ladon The most famous Greek dragon which guarded the golden apples of the Hesperides, daughters of Atlas. Often described as "sleepy-eyed", he should not be thought of as evil, merely as a beast doing his duty. He is associated with the constellation Draco. Minotaur The product of Queen Pasiphae's strange lust for the Cretan Bull. The Minotaur was half-man, half bull and is often depicted with a man's body and bull's head, though there are representations of it with a bull's trunk and man's head and torso. King Minos was so appalled at the offspring that he had the master craftsman Daedalus build an enormous labyrinth for it to hide in. The creature fed upon seven youths and seven maidens sent annually from Athens.

The hero Theseus, aided by Minos's daughter Ariadne, slew the monster with its own horn. The Minotaur is perhaps an allegory created by the Athenians for Knossos [Crete] who always harvested a strange fascination for bulls. Nemean Lion The child of Selene, the goddess of the moon. After she gave birth to it she dropped it to the earth in horror. It fell in the city of Nemea. When Selene became enraged by the local people for refusing her godhead, she set the monster loose on the village. Heracles flayed the beast for his First Labor and wore the pelt as a cloak. Pegasus The beautiful celebrated winged horse of mythology, he was ironically the offspring of Medusa when Perseus decapitated her. Wild and free, he was tamed by the hero Bellerophon with the aid of the famed golden bridle. Winged animals are not of Greek origins, and, like the Sphinx, the myth of Pegasus is probably foreign—most likely it migrated from the East. Phoenix The beautiful bird of ancient Assyrian, Greek, and Egyptian legend, and one of my favorites because of its inferences to resurrection and rebirth.

Click here for more details and picture. Python The serpent belonging to mother earth at her temple in Delphi. The god Apollo slew the beast and claimed the sanctuary for himself. Scylla Scylla was a rival of the witch Circe for the love of Glaucus. Circe transformed the maiden into an enormous monster with six dog-heads around her waist. She was transported to the cliffs of the Straits of Messina and devoured sailors who attempted to avoid Charybdis Sirens Mesmerizing voices; they are possibly associated with mermaids and the lure of the sea. They would entice sailors with their captivating songs, then eat them raw. Homer writes of two; later the number was three, and eventually myth claimed nine. They committed suicide when a sweeter voice, that of Orpheus, failed to lure any of the Argonauts to their lair. Sphinx Generally associated with Egypt, the half-bird, half-woman creature made its appearance in Greek mythology as the scourge of Thebes. It dwelt at the mountain entrance and asked travellers a riddle, and if the they failed, she would eat them.

Oedipus was asked the riddle, "What has four legs in the morn, two in the afternoon, and three at sunset?" The answer was man: he is a baby who crawls, an upright adult, and an elder with a cane. Demoralized, the sphinx hurled herself to her death. Typhon [Serpents represented the earth, and quite possibly all these half-snake creatures are metaphors for man's battle to dominate the earth.] But back to Typhon: he was the half-man, half snake son of Gaia and Tartarus. He was summoned by Gaia [mother earth] to avenge the defeat of the Titans by the Olympians. Hesiod describes him with a hundred heads, and the gods, upon seeing the monster, fled; only Zeus stood his ground. Typhon cut the sinews from Zeus's hands and feet and threw him into a cave. Hermes and Pan revived the king of gods and mended his wounds. The Fates had weakened Typhon with mortal food, and Zeus managed to dispose of Typhon by crushing him under Mount Etna. Copyright © thehellenictimes. All Rights Reserved.

Centaurs - definition of Centaurs by The Free Dictionary Centaurs - definition of Centaurs by The Free Dictionary (sĕn′tôr′) n. 1. Greek Mythology One of a race of monsters having the head, arms, and trunk of a man and the body and legs of a horse. 2. Astronomy Any of a group of icy asteroids that orbit the sun primarily in the region between Jupiter and Neptune, whose orbits they cross. Some centaurs appear to be more like comets than asteroids. [Middle English, from Latin Centaurus, from Greek Kentauros. Sense 2, from the official convention of naming such objects after the centaurs of Greek mythology, a practice derived from the fact that the first such object to be observed was named after Chiron .] centaur (ˈsɛntɔː) n (Classical Myth & Legend) Greek myth one of a race of creatures with the head, arms, and torso of a man, and the lower body and legs of a horse.

Also called: hippocentaur [C14: from Latin, from Greek kentauros, of unknown origin] cen•taur (ˈsɛn tɔr) n. 1. any of a race of creatures in Greek myth having the head, upper torso, and arms of a man, and the body and legs of a horse. [1325–75; < Latin centaurus < Greek kéntauros] cen•tau′ri•al, cen•tau′ri•an, cen•tau′ric, adj. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: 1. centaur - (classical mythology) a mythical being that is half man and half horse classical mythology - the system of mythology of the Greeks and Romans together; much of Roman mythology (especially the gods) was borrowed from the Greeks mythical creature , mythical monster - a monster renowned in folklore and myth Chiron - (Greek mythology) the learned centaur who tutored Achilles, Asclepius, Hercules, Jason, and other heroes 2.

Alpha Centauri , Rigil , Rigil Kent - brightest star in Centaurus; second nearest star to the sun Beta Centauri - the second brightest star in Centaurus Omega Centauri - a global cluster in the constellation Centaurus Proxima , Proxima Centauri - the nearest star to the sun; distance: 4.3 light years Translations Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: half-hearted References in classic literature ? In an apartment of the great temple of Denderah, some fifty years ago, there was discovered upon the granite ceiling a sculptured and painted planisphere, abounding in centaurs, griffins, and dolphins, similar to the grotesque figures on the celestial globe of the moderns. View in context But save me and take me to your ship; cut out the arrow from my thigh; wash the black blood from off it with warm water, and lay upon it those gracious herbs which, so they say, have been shown you by Achilles, who was himself shown them by Chiron, most righteous of all the centaurs.

View in context With a considerable amount of jingling and whip-cracking, and many plunging demonstrations on the part of two bare-backed horses and two centaurs with glazed hats, jack-boots, and flowing manes and tails, they rattle out of the yard of the Hotel Bristol in the Place Vendome and canter between the sun-and-shadow-chequered colonnade of the Rue de Rivoli and the garden of the ill-fated palace of a headless king and queen, off by the Place of Concord, and the Elysian Fields, and the Gate of the Star, out of Paris. View in context It seems absurd to compare a tug boat skipper to a centaur: but he reminded me some how of an engraving in a little book I had as a boy, which represented centaurs at a stream, and there was one, especially in the foreground, prancing bow and arrows in hand, with regular severe features and an immense curled wavy beard, flowing down his breast.

Question: In Greek mythology, what creature had a mans head, trunk and arms, and a horse's body and legs?
Answer: Centaur